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Jakubauskas feeling better after scare

Jakubauskas feeling better after scare

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By Richard Dean
/
Special to MLB.com |

HOUSTON -- For someone who less than 24 hours earlier had taken a line drive off his head from a batted ball by the Astros' Lance Berkman, Pittsburgh pitcher Chris Jakubauskas showed no physical evidence Sunday of what had transpired earlier at Minute Maid Park.

Jakubauskas, however, had a head contusion and mild concussion from that first-inning liner that hit him in the back of his head above the right ear.

"Not the best thing that can happen to you," said Jakubauskas after the Pirates lost, 10-3, to the Astros. "I'm lucky it got me in a place where it didn't do too much damage. Right now, I'm tired and woozy. The pain has gone down. The headache has gone away, pretty much."

Jakubauskas was fortunate. There wasn't any swelling or bleeding in the brain. After spending Saturday night at Methodist Hospital in Houston, Jakubauska, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday, flew with the team to Milwaukee, where the Pirates open a three-game series starting Monday.

Jakubauskas said the external swelling has gone down considerably since the incident. His parents were at Saturday's game from California and stayed with him at the hospital. Also visiting him in the hospital was Berkman, who was apologetic.

"I told him no apology was needed," said Jakubauskas. "It was a nice gesture on his part. He's a class act."

Jakubauskas said he didn't really see the ball coming back at him.

"All I pretty much remember is throwing the pitch," said Jakubauskas. "Until somebody told me I got hit by the ball, I thought [Berkman] hit a ball back up the middle and I dodged and hit my head on the mound. Then they told me it hit me flush. I saw the replay [Saturday] night and it got me really flush.

"The Houston [medical] people treated me real well. They got me to the hospital quick. I would like to thank them."

Jakubauskas isn't sure when he'll be healthy enough to return to the mound.

"Three weeks to get back is optimistic, at best," said Jakubauskas. "I'm looking forward to getting back out there, but I want to make sure I get healthy."

Richard Dean contributed to this report. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.